Nathan’s POV
I was in my study when my phone buzzed.
Lifting my crystal glass, I let the red wine roll over my tongue as I checked the caller ID.
Rowland Garfield, my distant nephew.
“Uncle Nathan, I’m in Asterfell. I arrived a couple of days ago.”
My heart lurched. A mory flashed in my mind. Aria’s call from earlier, I had seen the na Garfield on her phone screen.
Could the person who contacted her really have been my nephew?
No... that made no sense. I shook my head as if to chase the thought away.
Rowland had been overseas with his family for years, only returning to Asterfell occasionally in the past year—and always for business.
So what business brought him here this ti? I wondered. I was still lost in thought when his voice cut through my silence.
“Uncle Nathan, I hear there’s an auction. I’ll be bringing a date.”
I leaned back in my chair, swirling the wine lazily. “It’s just an auction, Rowland. Why are you reporting your dating life to ?”
My tone was light, but a sliver of tension slid down my spine.
My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, alert.
That na, Garfield, flashed again in my mind. I forced down the growl rising in my chest.
No. It can’t be that damn coincidental.
Rowland spoke again. “My date’s bringing a kid. I do not think there has ever been a kid at the Asterfell auction before. I was hoping you’d put in a good word for , to avoid any snags.”
I froze.
A kid?
My wolf bared its teeth. “Don’t tell you’ve sired so bastard out there. If your mother gets wind of this...” I let out a rough grunt. “You know your place in the pack, Rowland. You’re supposed to marry into a strong family. If she finds out you’ve been fooling around in Asterfell and had a kid before marriage, it’ll be a damn ss.”
Rowland went silent for a mont.
He finally muttered, “Relax, Uncle Nathan. It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Good,” I said. “Use your head. Just tell Collins to prep the auction hosts. By the way, why didn’t you tell you were coming to Asterfell?”
On the other end, I heard him take a deep breath.
“There’s a power struggle back ho,” he said quietly. “Mom told not to involve you. So I didn’t reach out. I’m staying at my... ‘cousin’s’ place.”
My wolf rumbled in annoyance. I could tell he was not entirely being honest. Keeping things from was dangerous for him, dangerous for everyone.
But I forced myself to breathe. “As long as you’re safe, co to my place if anything goes wrong.”
“I will. Oh—Uncle Nathan?” His voice brightened with mischief. “I heard your wife’s out of jail. You taking her to the auction? Or that lawyer from your firm?”
I stiffened.
His harmless question struck like a challenge howl.
Heat flared through my chest. Aria’s voice from earlier, steady, cold and accusing echoed through my mind.
My wolf slamd against my ribs.
“I would not be bringing a date,” I snapped.
Rowland must’ve heard the bite in my voice, because he went completely still.
Smart kid.
“Alright, Uncle. Talk later.”
The call ended, leaving the room unusually silent.
I set my wine glass down, my jaw tight.
My wolf paced within , my thoughts spiraled. And Aria’s voice kept clawing at the back of my mind.
Aria’s POV
Two days later, a parcel arrived at my doorstep. It was so large two delivery staff struggled to carry it all inside. My jaw slackened as dozens of dresses in every hue and cut imaginable filled my tiny living room, they were rich with silk, moon-lace, enchanted stitching... the kind of luxury only high-ranking wolves or royals could afford.
Even as a Luna, well, forr Luna...I had never touched dresses like these.
I slid my fingers across the fabrics. The material felt like magic woven into cloth. Crystals, pearls, diamonds, real ones at that, sat along hems and bodices, catching the low light like the phases of the moon.
My heart stuttered. Who exactly is Rowland? Which pack exactly did he belong to? Just how wealthy are they?
No ordinary wolf ordered dresses like these in both adult and pup sizes.
But I had no interest in digging for answers. I owed him a debt. I’d go to the auction. Then our paths could separate again.
I picked a soft, light-pink gown simple enough for to breathe in. I imdiately found a matching little-wolf princess dress for Lana. She hugged it to her chest with a squeal that made my wolf’s tail wag inside .
“These two,” I told the delivery woman.
She nodded, hanging them carefully in the closet while the rest of the extravagant collection shimred like a royal wardrobe behind her.
The mont the delivery staff left and the door clicked shut, my phone rang.
User Comments
0 comments from readers